i---create Granola

Today I am sharing my famous recipe for making granola. Okay, okay, maybe it isn't famous, but it sure is delish!

Doesn't it look good?

Here's the recipe:

i---create Granola

8 Cups Rolled Oats
1.5 Cups Wheat Germ
1.5 Cups Oat Bran

5 Cups of any mixture of the following:
Soy nuts
sunflower seeds
finely chopped pecans
finely chopped almonds
finely chopped walnuts
coconut
any type of nuts really

1.5 tsp salt
3/4 Cup Brown sugar
1/2 Cup Pure Maple Syrup(the fake stuff works, too)
1 Cup Peanut Butter
1 Cup Vegetable Oil
2 TBS ground cinnamon
1 TBS vanilla
2 Cups Craisins or raisins (optional)


Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Combine the oats, wheat germ, oat bran, soy nuts, pecans, almonds, walnuts, and coconut in a large bowl. Stir together the remaining ingredients (except for the raisins) in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then pour over the dry ingredients, and stir to coat. Spread the mixture out evenly on the baking sheets.
3. Bake in the preheated oven until crispy and toasted, about 20 minutes. Stir once halfway through. Cool, then stir in the raisins or cranberries before storing in an airtight container.

Tips and tricks
*you don't have to use the exact amount of nuts shown. I sometimes use more than needed if I want to use up a bag.
*To finely chop the nuts, just stick them in a food processor! Works much better than chopping with a knife.
*Take the granola out of the oven when it is still a little bit wet.  Keep in mind that it will clump together when it is out of the oven.
*For storing I put it in 2 ziploc bags. I freeze one and leave the other one out to eat.
Granola is perfect for snacks and breakfast.  I enjoy mine like a bowl of cereal: with milk in the bottom! I also drink a glass of orange juice.  This granola keeps me full until lunch time with all of the protein it contains.